This is a copy of a post from Pastor Eric Blauer's blog:

A guy approached Jack (C.S. Lewis) on the street one day and asked him if he could spare a few shillings. And Jack immediately dove into his pocket and brought out all his change and handed it over to this beggar. And the chap he was with—I think it was Tolkien—said, "Jack, you shouldn't have given that fellow all that money, he'll just spend it on drink." Jack said, "Well if I had kept it, I would have only spent it on drink."

That post transformed my thinking and God used it to open my eyes. I LOVE it when that happens, because suddenly something that didn’t make sense before just starts making sense and peace and joy rush in to fill the place that confusion had previously held.

Before I read this post, I’d never given a single anything to any of those people that stand on the street corners with their signs. I always justified it with “holy” ideas like being a good steward and holding people accountable. My kids would want to give them money and I’d explain to them how in America, if people want to get help, they can. There are agencies all over the place waiting to feed them, clothe them, bathe them, etc, blah, blah, blah.

But even as I said those things, something just didn’t feel right about it. I could never look any of those people in the eyes when I drove past them. I couldn’t smile at them or speak to them. Their presence made me uncomfortable.

After I read Pastor Eric's blog post, everything clicked into place in one of those delicious "aha!" moments. Now I try to keep an envelope in my purse at all times with money in it dedicated to being given away to the people at the street corners. I don’t see them as irresponsible members of society anymore. I see them as precious blessings from God. I look for them now and am humbled by how many there are of these incredible, easy, in-your-face opportunities to do a good thing for someone without judging them or asking anything at all in return. I praise God for every priceless opportunity, and every time I drive away, I feel God’s love rush into me until it feels like it’s literally flowing out of every pore. It’s quite an addictive rush, actually.

A couple weeks ago, I was driving home from work. It was rush hour. I took the Sprague Avenue exit, which means I need to stay in the far right lane to get where I need to be. There was a person standing on the northwest corner of Appleway and Thierman holding a sign, which meant that I would need to cross four lanes to get to him. At the time I noticed him, I only had one block in which to do this, so I had to think fast. I prayed quickly, "God, if you want me to give this guy some money, You'll have to make a way for me to do it." So I looked behind and around and in front of me, and you know what...? In the middle of rush hour on a weekday, on a relatively busy section of road, God made a way. There wasn't anyone around me! No cars behind me, and no cars next to me in any of those four lanes! So I quickly moved over the four lanes and was able to give some money to the man. And all the way home, my spirit rejoiced in worship and adoration of my miracle-working God Who always enables us to do what He has called us to do.